Anyone who knows me can vouch for the fact that I am not a morning person. However, getting up at the crack of dawn to photograph Isla and her parents as the sun was rising, was really fun!

This beautiful baby is clearly loved by her mom and dad. She is such a sweet, good natured girl. She had me wrapped around her chubby little finger from the very first frame.

To say we look forward to our yearly session with Emily and her family is a major understatement. Over the years, we have delighted in watching her daughters grow into beautiful, young ladies. Emily and her husband Darius, however, manage to not change a bit!

Emily wanted to do this year’s session in a studio. What’s so nice about this one in downtown L.A. is not only the floor to ceiling windows bathing the space in gorgeous light, but the array of furniture and props at our disposal. Once I spied this turquoise couch, I knew it would make a great backdrop for a portrait of Sanaya.

See what I mean about that window light? Anahita looks so angelic.

I don’t even want to know what Larry was doing behind my back to get this reaction from the girls!

Sanaya and Anahita have clearly inherited their mother’s grace and beauty.

Being a younger sister too, I can relate to this photo.

This shoot was especially wonderful because not only were Darius’s parents a part of it, but also Jane, his boyhood nanny.

I love this portrait of Darius and his father.

Darius’ dad was a bit reserved and stoic during most of the session. However, he positively beamed when posing with his granddaughters.

Okay, I’m going to get a little preachy now, but I just want to convey how important it is to schedule something like this. If you are lucky enough to have a multi-generational family, please take the time to have a professional portrait session. Think of it as an historical investment. Your children and grandchildren will thank you some day!

If you would like to see more of this gorgeous family, click here.

Larry and I did a really fun session over the weekend. Chloe’s mom has been a friend of ours for years and we have often talked about doing a photo shoot with her beautiful daughter.
We knew Chloe was an accomplished dancer (and only 12!) so we thought it would be fun to do some dance shots. Since they live near Joshua Tree National Park, we planned on doing the session there.

What we didn’t plan on however, was how amazing this young woman turned out to be. Not only was she willing to get up long before the sun came up for our dawn shoot, but she danced her heart out for over two hours! If that were not impressive enough, she did so either barefoot or on pointe shoes on the hot, scrabbly sand. She climbed rocks and lay down amongst the weeds. At one point she casually mentioned she had seen a snake near where we were shooting. For most young girls, that would have been a wrap on the whole deal!

We are so pleased with and proud of these photos. It was truly a collaborative endeavor that could never have happened without Chloe and her mother’s considerable efforts. I hope they like the photos as much as we do.

Welcome back to part two of Daisy and Matt’s 10 year vow renewal and party.

Guests enjoyed cocktails and nibbles under the trees at Roblar Winery & Vineyards.

A very special guest book, comprised of photos from all of Daisy and Matt’s anniversary photo sessions, delighted family and friends. Charming picnic baskets and blankets were on hand for guests to enjoy.

The table decor was stunning! I love when rustic elements are displayed elegantly. The contrast is divine. Renae’s Bouquet nailed it!

Every detail was picture perfect. The Hollywood Rhythm Kings kept the mood lively and fun.

When designing this guest book for the party, I got to dig into the archives and relive the various shoots we had done over the years. I can honestly say, I am incredibly proud of the amazing images we all created together.

This charming lemonade stand kept guests refreshed. The personalized mason jars were over the top adorable!

There were dapper guests of all ages in attendance.

We adored this car!

Daisy was positively beaming as she looked out at her family and friends.

After 10 years, these two still can’t keep their hands off each other.

Their ceremony was so sweet. Reverend Bellamy reprised his original role and married them again.

Twining hearts adorned the tree they were married under. A gorgeous spread awaited everyone as the sun went down.

Good food, a great band and lively conversation was enjoyed by all.

After dinner, an array of desserts was on offer by Decadence Fine Cakes & Confections.

You gotta love sparklers! Especially when they bring a smile like this to Daisy’s face.

Daisy, Matt & Jazz, Larry and I are so honored to be a part of your lives. Because I don’t have the talent to put into words how much you mean to us, we will continue to show you how much we love you through our images. We are looking forward to documenting the next 10 years!

It’s hard to believe 10 years have passed since we photographed Daisy and Matt’s wedding in Santa Barbara. Since that time, we have photographed each of their anniversaries without fail. Over the years we have traveled to Hawaii with them, did a session on horseback, documented them in their home with their beloved pets: Ghost and Fleur and most recently become completed besotted by their son, Jazz.
Larry and I cherish each and every session with this family and have loved being a part of their lives.

To mark this most special of anniversaries, Daisy and Matt threw a wonderful intimate party to renew their vows and celebrate with their closest friends and family. We started off the day at a fabulous hacienda in the Santa Ynez valley where we photographed some family portraits before all the festivities began.

While Mom and Dad were looking pretty spiffy, Jazz stole the show at every turn!

Daisy is such a joy to photograph. She puts so much thought and care into her wardrobe. Plus, she just instinctively knows what makes a good photo.

She is even more beautiful today than she was on her wedding day. And trust me, that is saying a lot!

Matt was looking so handsome in his blue suit. It complemented his eyes perfectly.

The fabulous home that they rented offered so many wonderful photo opps.

Plus lots of great places for little ones to run and play!

Matt gets a helping hand getting ready from his dad…or is it the other way around?

Here’s what I love most about Daisy…most wives would blow a gasket if they saw their husbands and children horsing around like this while dressed in their fancy suits. Not only, would she not mind, if she hadn’t been inside getting ready herself, she would have been rolling around with them.

Daisy looked simply stunning in her party dress.

What did I say about this couple’s attention to detail? A turquoise vintage car was the perfect transport to the ceremony and party site.

Please come back tomorrow for part 2 of this post. There will be lots of wonderfully sweet moments and charming decor!

Flowers by Renae’s Bouquet

We photographed a really fun wedding last week. Regi and Serge traveled all the way from Switzerland to have their intimate wedding at Shutters on the Beach.
Their closest friends and Serge’s son, were on hand to celebrate with them. While the guest list may have been small, the love and support surrounding the happy couple was great.

Photographing them was a blast! They were so receptive to all of our ideas and more than willing to leave their merry party at a moment’s notice to take advantage of the best light. Larry and I enjoyed not only taking photos of Regi and Serge but getting to know them as well.
Regi and Serge, we wish you all the very best in your new life together. Don’t be surprised if we take you up on your offer to meet up in Switzerland one of these days. 😉

Saturday marked the birthday of one of my favorite photographers, Herb Ritts. I was so incredibly sad when he died in 2002. His work was so dynamic. His portraits and fashion editorials leapt right out at the viewer, refusing to be ignored. To say I was influenced by him, is a major understatement. As I was looking through my archives, I came upon some of my early work which you see here. I know these photos are nowhere near the caliber of what he created but I hope there is a little of his brilliance somewhere around the edges.

Happy Birthday Herb! We miss you so very very much.